Plug-receptacle box for electric circuits.



W. F. MESDHENMOSER. PLUG RECEPTACLE BOX FOR' ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. I910.

Patentd Nov. 16, 1915.

z 1/ 1 I. I// //1 z I I 1 I 'o'awuss ,WILLIAM F. MEscHnnMosnn, or NEW nonr, NEW YORK.

PLUG-RECEPTACLE BOX FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Application filed April 2, 1910. Serial No. 552,946.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. MESCIIEN- Mosnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Dorp, in the county of Richmond and StateofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plug-Receptacle Boxes for Electric Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to plug receptacle boxes for electric circuits and has for its object to simplify and cheapen the cost of constructing such devices as well as to attain a strong and reliable structure.

A further object is to so construct the device that the various operative parts thereof will not become loose by continual use.

A still further object is to provide a device of the above character wherein the terminals located in the receptacle cannot be connected except by using the plug or a similarly constructed device whereby accidents due to connecting the terminals when the plugis removed will be avoided.

With these and other objects in View which will be apparent from the subjoined description, the invention consists in the novel parts, combinations of parts and details of constructionhereinafter more particularly described and then specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a vertical central section through a plug receptacle box constructed in accordance with my invention, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a .front view of the same with the cover plate and plug removed. F ig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line X X Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the plug detached from the receptacle. Fig. 5 is a central section through the plug. Fig. 6 is a transversecentral section through the same. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the plug looking at the contact pins.

While my invention is shown and will be described as applied to a plug receptacle box of the flush wall type, it will be understood that it is not limited to this use as other styles of receptacle boxes might be constructed in accordance therewith without departing from the spirit thereof.

A casing or receptacle preferably formed perimposed on of porcelain or other suitable earthy material adapted to act as an insulator is provided with a base 2, sides 3 and an open front end opposite the base 2. The base 2 is made sufiiciently heavy or thick pockets or recesses for cup-shaped metal pockets and the sides 3 of the receptacle are made integral with said base and extend forwardly of the base to form a pocket or inclosure in which the plug, after its terminals are entered in the metallic sockets, will be fully housed and protected in position bemath or within the cover plate. Said sides at their forward or outer edge are furnished with means for attachment to the floor or other surface beneath which the casing or receptacle is located, which means for attachment may be constructed as follows.

The front or open end is provided with a plate 4 having a central aperture 5 therein and by means of which the receptacle may be secured to a wall 6 or other support. Su-

the plate 4 is a cover plate provided with hinged doors 7, 8 adapted to close the open end of the receptacle and aperture in the plate 4.

9, 10 indicate cup-shaped metal sockets secured in recesses or pockets in the base 2 by screws 11 which enter the base of the sockets, the heads of the screws being preferably countersunk in pockets formed in the base 2. Each socket is provided with binding posts 12, 13 respectively secured thereto and to which the ends of the circuit wires are secured. The binding posts 12, 13 are each provided with a lateral extension, by means of which extension the binding post is clamped between the base of the contact socket and the porcelain base 2 by means of the clamping screw 11. The said binding posts are located in openings extending through the sides of the porcelain receptacle from the pockets in the base wherein the metallic sockets are located and the lateral extensions referred to are integral with the binding post proper as shown and extend at right angles from the portion of said binding post in which the binding screw is located. The binding screws extend through the post in the axial line of said opening and into the sockets. Access to and operation of to afford I pose, which, when 1 tion of mica suitably molded pressure.

the binding screw is obtained by the tool or instrument inserted sidewise through the opening inthe base.

When formed of porcelain or similar material, the surfaces of the receptacle or casing are rough and untrue as is well-known, so that when the contact sockets 9, ,10 are secured directto the porcelain base 2,.they are liable not 'to set true and when the coacting contact pins are inserted, the sockets are wrenchedand become loose. To avoid this, I interpose between the base of the sockets and the base 2, a washer of some yieldable substance which will nevertheless provide a solid seat for the sockets. Preferably 1 employa lead washer 14::for this purthe socket is clamped in place by the screw 11, takes up any inequalities in the porcelain and provides a flat seat for the socket.

15 indicates insulating caps secured to the exposed ends of the sockets in such position that their surfaces preferably pro ect slightly above the surface of the base 2 and are also provided with a'ledge which covers V the edge of the sockets. The caps 15 are also provided with a central perforation forming a continuation of the bore of the sockets to permit the contact pin By this construction, in order to connect the sockets or line terminals electrically, a co-act'ing device has to enter the sockets and engage the same beyond the insulating caps 15.

16 indicates the plug provided with contact pins 17 -l8 projecting therefrom. The contact pins are so located in the plug that when the plug is inserted in the receptacle the pins enter the sockets 9, 10 and make contact therewith preferably along the sides. The plug 16 is preferably formed of a mass of insulating material such as a composi' and compressed into the desired shape. The pins 17, 18 are securely fastened in the plug by molding the material of the plug around them and solidifying the mass under great The pins 17, 18 form the terminals of an insulated cable, 19, the ends of which are bared and each end secured to one of the pins 17, 18 in any suitable manner as for instance by a binding post 20 on a plate .21 secured to the head of the pin. The plate 21 is secured at one end to the head of the pin and is also preferably molded in the material of the plug, but having its upper surface exposed. The two ends of the cable 19 are knotted together as at 30 and extend up through a central opening- 22 in the plug to the lamp or other device to which it is desired to conduct the current. After inserting the plug in the receptacle the doors 7 8 are closed and the exterior is practically flush with the walls 6. The knot to enter the socket.

30 is located in a recess 31 formed in the under side of the plug and when the plug is pulled out as by struction and form shown and described but modifications in construction and form might be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof as contemplated in the subjoined claims.

What I claim. as my. invention is: 1. In adevice of the character described,

the combination of a porcelain base, a contact socket secured to said base,-a binding post located at the side of said socket and having anextension clamped betweensaid socket and parallel therewith and saidbase, a lead washer interposed between said binding post extension and said base and forming a seat for said socket.

2. In a device of the character described,

will engage the base ofthe the combination of a porcelain base, a contact socket secured in a pocket in said base and a binding-post locatedin an opening extending from'said pocket through the side wall of said base and having an integral lateral extension clamped beneath the end of I i the socket and the .bottomof the pocket in which the same is located and a binding screw extending through the post and into the material of the socket, said binding.

screw being operable by a tool'inserted sidewise into the base as described and forward extensions of said base integral therewith and adapted to form a plug.

an insulating receptacle comprising a base having pockets therein to receive metal contact sockets, forward extensions from said base forming the sides of the receptacle and provided at their outer edge with means for securing the same to a floor or wall, said forward extensions forming 'a housing or protection for the plug when the latter is in position, binding posts located in the sides of housing for the whole the insulating receptacle in openings ex-- tending through the base opposite the sockets and lateral extensions of said binding posts integral therewith extending at right angles from said posts intothe pockets beneath thebase of the metal socket and binding screws mounted in said openings and operable only from the side of the base.

v 4:. In a device of the character described, a porcelain base formed with pockets extending inward rearwardly from the outer face of said base to form seatsfor metal sockets, fastening screws located in countersunk openings in the rear wall or face of the base,

binding posts in side o'peningsof said, base In a device of the character described,

extending through to the pocket for the Signed at New York in the county of New socket and having integral extensions at York andState of New York this 15th day right angles therefrom clamped beneath the of March, A. D. 1910.v end of the socket and the bottom of the base W. F. MESCHENMOSER. 5 and forward-extensions of said base integral Witnesses:

therewith adapted to form a housing or re- EDWARD M. JELLINEK, ceptac'le for the contact plug. IRENE LEFKOWITZ. 

